10-20-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
October 20, 2024
We had the blessing of the new Playground last night, and it was a delightful evening. The weather could not have been any better, and there was a lot of good energy. Yesterday morning, with the help of a very gracious gift from a church member, we had a team come in and build an accessibility ramp for the south side entrance to the playground. What a perfect addition, for not only does it provide access for those who might need it, but it also communicates a subtle but important message to those visiting. Though never perfect, we want to continue to create access, whether that is physical access or those places where people are needing emotional or spiritual access. The last thing we want is for even a handful of people to feel as if they are on the outside looking in. It is always interesting to me how there are some people who push back on inclusion, acting as if inviting outsiders in will leave less room for them. But welcome, love, and inclusion—at least in God’s realm—are not finite. There is no reason to fear, but sadly we tend to work from a mindset of scarcity, and we bring that fear and scarcity to our vision of the Christian life. In the end, my takeaway has been an even greater appreciation of what is possible with God, and that includes God’s capacity to love me. The more people invited and the more people who find a seat at God’s table of plenty, the more it provides comfort and trust. It tells me over and over again that words like unconditional, limitless, far-reaching, and radically inclusive are more than just taglines. That’s who God is and what we are called to embody.

I need your grace, O God, to bring in someone that I may not feel is deserving of your welcome. Bring them in, as you always do, and then allow for me to see a new level of depth and beauty in your immeasurable kindness. And when that happens, any concern I might have felt about my own welcome begins to dissipate. I begin to trust your vision in Jesus, a vision that claims all are loved and welcome. Amen.